Flexible liquefied natural gas plant

• Main Authors: MILLER MICHAEL R, BRENNAN JUSTIN G, NORMAN GARTH M, RASMUSSEN CHAD C
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 14.11.2012
• Subjects: AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; BLASTING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES; ELECTRICITY; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; GENERATION; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TONON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES ORJET-PROPULSION PLANTS; INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUSSUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; STEAM ENGINES; WEAPONS

The present techniques are directed to a flexible liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant that may be tied to an external electric grid for importing or exporting electric power. Exemplary embodiments provide a method for producing LNG that includes producing a base load capacity of refrigeration capacity for LNG production from a first compression system. Electricity may be produced from a second compressor string if electricity is needed by an external power grid, or a second amount of refrigeration capacity may be provided by the second compressor string is natural gas feed is available and the external grid does not need power.